How Many Logbook Hours Do You Need in SA? The 75-Hour Rule Explained
In South Australia, learner drivers must complete at least 75 hours of supervised driving, including a minimum of 15 hours of night driving. Every single hour must be recorded in The Driving Companion log book. Here is what counts, how to log your night hours, and how to reach 75 hours without it taking years.
What is the 75-hour rule in SA?
The 75-hour requirement is a condition of the SA learner stage. Before you can apply for your P1 provisional licence, you must show a completed log book recording at least 75 hours of supervised on-road driving. At least 15 of those hours must be completed after sunset and before sunrise, which is what the system counts as night driving.
The official record-keeping tool is The Driving Companion, available as a paper book from Service SA or as an approved electronic log book app. Every entry must be signed by the supervising driver at the time of the trip. You cannot back-fill entries after the fact without risking the integrity of the record.
You can read the official requirements on the mylicence.sa.gov.au logbook page and the full learner stage rules at mylicence.sa.gov.au/my-car-licence/learners-stage.
How long must you hold your learner's permit before upgrading?
Completing 75 hours is only one part of the requirement. You must also hold your learner's permit for a minimum period:
- Under 25 years old: at least 12 months on your learner's permit
- 25 years or older: at least 6 months on your learner's permit
This means even if you clock up 75 hours in three months, you cannot apply for your P1 until the time requirement is also met. Plan your practice schedule with both targets in mind.
Who can supervise your driving?
Your supervising driver must hold a full (unrestricted) driver's licence. This means they cannot be on a provisional or learner licence themselves. They must be seated in the front passenger seat for the entire time you are driving.
Family members, friends, and professional driving instructors all count equally toward your 75 hours, provided they meet the licence requirement. Your instructor will sign off hours directly in your log book at the end of each lesson.
What counts as night driving?
Night driving is any driving completed after sunset and before sunrise. The Driving Companion has a separate section for recording night hours so they are easy to track. You need at least 15 hours in this category.
A practical way to accumulate night hours is to schedule some of your supervised practice sessions in the evenings, particularly in winter when darkness arrives earlier. Common night driving scenarios to practise include:
- Navigating residential streets with varying street lighting
- Driving on main roads and highways at night
- Merging and changing lanes when it is harder to judge gaps
- Handling oncoming headlight glare without looking directly into it
- Parking in poorly lit areas
Night driving is a genuinely different skill, not just a tick-box exercise. Confidence at night makes you a safer driver all year round.
What does not count toward your 75 hours?
A few things that new learners often ask about:
- Driving on private property (your driveway, a car park, a paddock) does not count. Hours must be on public roads.
- Simulation or video game driving does not count.
- Time spent as a passenger, even in a driving lesson vehicle, does not count toward your hours.
- Any trip where the supervising driver does not hold a full unrestricted licence does not count.
Tips to reach 75 hours efficiently
Spreading 75 hours over 12 months works out to roughly 90 minutes of supervised driving per week. That is very achievable if you make it a regular habit. Here are the approaches that work best:
- Build a weekly routine. Two or three 30-minute evening drives during the school or work week adds up quickly. Short, frequent sessions build muscle memory faster than occasional long ones.
- Use professional lessons strategically. An instructor teaches you the skills and correct habits while also counting toward your hours. Early lessons in particular can save you from cementing bad habits that are hard to undo later.
- Vary your conditions deliberately. Mix suburban streets, main roads, freeways, wet weather, and night driving. Ticking the same familiar route every session means slower skill development and a harder test day.
- Log every trip immediately. Fill in The Driving Companion at the end of every single drive before the supervising driver leaves the car. It takes 90 seconds and avoids any disputes about hours later.
- Do not rush the night hours. Start accumulating night driving hours early in your learner period, not just at the end. Night sessions with an instructor first gives you the confidence to then practise at night with a parent or guardian.
How do professional lessons fit in with your log book?
Professional lessons with a licensed instructor are one of the most effective ways to build both skills and hours simultaneously. Your instructor will sign off each lesson in your log book, and the hours count exactly the same as hours with a parent or guardian.
Beyond the log book entry, lessons with a professional give you structured feedback that supervised practice with family often cannot. An instructor can identify and correct habits early, prepare you specifically for the VORT or CBT&A assessment, and cover road conditions and scenarios that parents may not think to introduce.
Many learners find a mix works best: a professional lesson every fortnight to build technique, and regular family sessions in between to clock hours.
What about falsifying the log book?
Do not do it. Falsifying entries in The Driving Companion is an offence under SA law. Penalties include fines and can result in losing your learner's permit. Beyond the legal risk, a falsified log book means going into a driving test with far less real experience than the examiner expects. The practical risk to your safety and the safety of others on the road is significant. Log every hour honestly.
Frequently asked questions
How many logbook hours do you need in South Australia?
At least 75 hours of supervised on-road driving, including a minimum of 15 hours of night driving, all recorded in The Driving Companion.
Do professional driving lessons count toward the 75 hours?
Yes. Any hour driven under supervision with a fully licensed driver counts, including hours with a professional driving instructor. Your instructor signs off those hours in your log book at the end of each lesson.
What counts as night driving for the SA logbook?
Any driving completed after sunset and before sunrise. You need at least 15 hours in this category recorded in The Driving Companion's night driving section.
How long must you hold a learner's permit before getting your P1 in SA?
At least 12 months if you are under 25, or at least 6 months if you are 25 or older. Both the time requirement and the 75 hours must be met before you can sit your assessment.
Can a parent or family member supervise my driving hours?
Yes, provided they hold a full (unrestricted) South Australian driver's licence. They must be in the front passenger seat for the entire trip.
What happens if you falsify your SA logbook?
Falsifying log book entries is an offence under SA law. Penalties can include fines and the loss of your learner's permit. Log every hour honestly.
Ready to start clocking hours the right way? Book a lesson with Mohit at My Driving Trainer. Professional lessons count toward your 75 hours and build the skills that make test day straightforward. Book a lesson or check lesson packages and prices.
Related: VORT vs CBT&A: which driving test should you choose? · How much do driving lessons cost in Adelaide?